Eyeglass-case



No. 608,640. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

H. E. BEMIS.

EYEGLASS CASE.

(Application filed Jgn. 20, 1896.]

(No Model.)

III);I;IIIlIIIlIII/l/III Q Vi/tvwoow niiichl PATENT HARRY E. BEMIS, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO THE OASTEIr BERG NATIONAL JEWELRY COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

EYEG'LASS-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,640, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed January 20, 1896. Serial No. 576,105. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. BEMIS, a citi zen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyeglass-Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable cases for holding spectacles and eyeglasses, and has for its object the production of an efficient device of this character possessing advantages in point of compactness and simplicity of construction, and, added to these, the case is capable of holding either an eyeglass or a pair of spectacles singly or both 7 together, whereby the extra case carried by persons using two different types or strength of glasses is dispensed with.

The invention also has for its object the provision of improved means for maintaining the closed condition of cases of this character, thereby precluding the accidental opening of the same and the consequent derangement and loss of the contents.

The nature of my invention will be clearly apparent from a reading of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved case in an open condition and containing a pair of spectacles and a pair of eyeglasses. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the empty case, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken online 68 m of Fig. 2.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the body of the case, which is generally elliptical or oval in shape and dished or depressed beyond the edges, and B is the cover, hinged to the body at Z) and shaped similarly to the latter, but oppositely dished to provide a sufficient space, when the cover is lowered, to accommodate together a pair of spectacles and a pair of eyeglasses, as shown.

In Fig. 1 is shown suitable fastening means at the side opposite to the hinge in the nature of a button 0 on the cover, which engages a spring-clip c on the body of the case. In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown an arrangement by which said fastening means is dispensed with, which consists of a spring cl, of wire, bent to form the springjportion proper, d, and the arms 61 (:1 one of the latter of which is secured at its end to the body and the other of which is similarly secured to the cover. Each of said arms (1 is bent to conform to the inner surface of the body or cover, against which it lies closely, and the ends are preferably fastened by being passed through the case and upturned or oppositely bent. The spring action is imparted through theportion (1', which lies closely against the inner or hinge side of the case and by a torsional action operates to normally close the cover against the body, and access to the case is had by raising the cover against the action of the spring.

In practice the eyeglass is preferably first inserted in the case, a portion of the lenses finding lodginent under two guards e e, which are in the nature of lips, each being secured at one edge to the edge of the body and extending beyond the latter sufficiently to form pockets for the lenses and also for the ends of the earpieces of the spectacles, which extend with in the guards sufficiently to insure a good hold. The bow of the eyeglass, as well asthe bow of the spectacles, is held firmly in place by a spring-clamp comprising a base-piece f, riveted to the body and preferably having lateral securing portions f for strength, and a spring-actuated clamping-lever g, pivoted at one end between two lips f f upturned from the base-piece. The inner end of lever g is extended beyond the pivotal point, where it is engaged by the free end of a spring h, which operates to maintain the raised or lowered position of the clamping-lever. Ihe other end of the spring is fixed to the base-piece by riveting or otherwise, and with the exception ofits free end the spring rests closely against the base-piece, thus. providing ample room for the bows of the glasses. The free end of the clamping-lever isenlarged, as shown, by a return bend, for affording ready manipulation in opening the clamp.

The operation of the invention will be clearly apparent,.as in order to insert or remove the glasses it is merely necessary to raise the clamping-lever and then depress the same, the spring maintaining its raised position until the glass or glasses, if more than one, are inserted or removed, and also maintaining its lowered or closed position after the operation of insertion or removal. The use of the clamp enables a secure hold on the contained glasses, which precludes of their change of position within the ease and, moreover, reduces to the minimum the liability of makes the case selfclosing accidental derangement of the contents is entirely preeluded.

I claim as my invention 1. A spectacle or eyeglass case comprising two parts, a spring-actuated lever carried by one of said parts and adapted to exert a clamping action on the bow of the glass to hold the latter to place.

2. A spectacle or eyeglass ease comprising two parts, a spring-actuated clamping-lever carried by one of said parts and adapted to exert a clamping action on the bow of the glass, and guards at the edge of said part for the lenses, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. llEMlS.

\Vi tnesses:

CHAS. l POIIACK, GE'rTYs MONTGOMERY. 

